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Matamata Swifts have surged to their biggest win of the season on the back of a dominating performance and a goal laden second half. The Swifts made all the running, playing as much football as the rough Domain surface allowed and being pragmatic enough at the back to keep their athletic, but out-matched, opponents in check.
Despite creating a host of first half chances the Swifts had to wait until six minutes before the break to get the opening goal. Leading scorer, Andre Freitas, was played in by Scott Parsonage and took his shot early. The resulting 20 yard thunderbolt left the visiting keeper helpless. It was a stunning finish that set the previously misfiring Swifts on their way to victory.
 The bulk of the first half had been an exercise in frustration for the Swifts as they squandered some decent opportunities to put this match to bed before half time. Duncan Lowry had a header cleared off the line, while Leo Pardini saw an acrobatic volley scrape the top of the cross bar. In probably the best chance of the half Daniel Frischknecht saw the ball rear straight up at him off the surface with only the keeper to beat. More would be seen of Frischknecht in the second half, however.
The outrageous playing surface, particularly in the goal box at the clubrooms end of the field, was also to blame for the lack of first time shooting. Matamata had numerous opportunities to take a chance and pull the trigger, but didn't have the confidence or intrinsic trust in the deck to do so.
After the break the match was as one sided as the first half but the goals began to flow. Only moments after the restart a flying Frischknecht was released on half way by a superb Leo Pardini pass. Frischknecht out-sprinted the left back, moved into the box and tucked the ball calmly inside the far upright. On the hour mark Frisknecht grabbed a second in the exact same manner. Pardini played him in again and, if anything, his finish was even sweeter.
Frischknecht, the Redoubt man of the match, then turned provider for fellow youngster Gareth Clark, a half time substitute for the injured Andre Freitas. An excellent cross was swept home by Clark, who soon had a double of his own. His second, and Matamata's fifth, came from a cheeky bit of skill in the box by Clark. He skinned two defenders so badly only their skeletons were left before deftly poking the ball home from close range.
In a match for the youngsters, Matamata was also able to hand a first team debut to Andrew Clothier, a talented left sided midfielder who has only just turned 15 and who looked the part during his quarter hour on the field.
Victory kept the Swifts marginally on top of the Waikato Bay of Plenty Federation League table ahead of next Saturday's tricky trip to Otorohanga.
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